Massachusetts was a country with many misgivings about the Constitution. Part of the New England states, with harbors along the east coast and farming land in the west, the population was very diverse. After the war had been won, war debt and taxes hit the farmers of the west hard. Tension from this created Shay's rebellion, a rebellion comprising of small farmers that lasted from 1786 -1787. The aftermath of Shay's Rebellion led to the need for a strong replacement of the Articles of Confederation. The Constitution.
Writings from a Political House:
Born on September 25, 1728 in Barnstable, Massachusetts, Mercy Otis Warren was a daughter among sons. As she grew up she loved to read and learn about politics, and learned to express her thoughts and feelings through writing. Later, while at Harvard, she met, and later married James Warren. Shortly after, James Warren as well as her brother James Otis, became prominent in politics. So much so, that the Warren house became a common meeting place of revolutionaries. Mercy Otis Warren wrote her first publication in 1772. Her writing ranged from plays to histories such as her three-volumeHistory of the Rise, Progress and Termination of the American Revolution. She was the first woman of her time to have her works published.
Constitutional Convention Member?
In modern times, Mercy Otis Warren surely would have been a key player at the Constitutional Convention. However, and strongly against the beliefs of Mrs. Warren, women were not permitted to hold such an office as delegate. She therefore, was not a delegate but still played a key role in the events at the convention.
Massachusetts Ratifying Convention:
Mercy Otis Warren was not a member of the state's ratifying convention, though her husband was. Despite this, her pamphlet, Observations on the new Constitution, and on the Federal and State Conventions, published under the pseudonym, "Columbian Patriot," held a vital role in the ratifying convention. Her pamphlet expressed in ornate terms, the need and reasons for need of distinctly specified states' and person's rights. Partially due to her pamphlet, Massachusetts was the first state to include changes to the Constitution to protect states and individuals along with its ratification.
Arguments Against the Ratification of the Constitution:
In her pamphlet previously mentioned above, Mercy Otis Warren clearly laid out her arguments and grievances against the ratification of the Constitution. One such was the condition that there was no safeguarding of freedom of speech or press, meaning that a corrupt government once established would be free to restrict the voice of the people. Along with the problems of a possible corrupt government, no boundaries were set on the power of the Judiciary system and juries were not used in civil cases, leading to the possibility of unaccounted for public monies. In addition, the court had unwarranted power over life, liberty, and the possessions of people. Concerning the other two branches of government, the differences between the Executive and Legislative branches hardly existed. Many other parts of the government remained vague as well. Despite the need for armies in foreign affairs, Mercy believed that standing armies were a danger. Not to far out of British occupation, Mercy called them, "The nursery of vice and the bane of liberty." As bad as taxes were, Mercy also realized that in the present form of the Constitution there was no monetary method to support the running of government. And with no monetary method to support the central government, why should Congress be permitted to set their own wages which would drain heavily on the public coffers, and do so for the rest of their lives with no term limits set. She believed that the Senate terms should be shortened from six years to a smaller term so the public did not forget about them. Also, she believed that representation should be based on the population, as it did not make sense for one person to represent thirty thousand citizens. In conjunction with the Legislative branch, all government's prime objective should be the people's rights. This would mean that there were smaller governments, not just a central one, and that, to be fair, the Constitution would need to be ratified by all states, not just nine. In this way, the states would be given time to look over the Constitution thoroughly, before giving away their freedoms.
References:
Sam Adams
Samuel Nasson
Amos Singletary
Friends:
Thomas Jefferson
Patrick Henry
Samuel Adams
Foes:
Alexander Hamilton
Thomas Hutchinson
John Adams
Bibliography:
"Mercy Otis Warren." Bunker hill Exhibit. The Massachusetts Historical Society, 2003. Web. 18 Sep 2011. <http://www.masshist.org/bh/mercybio.html>.
*Mercy Otis Warren, Observations on the new Constitution, and on the Federal and State Conventions 9, in Herbert J. Staring, ed., The Complete Anti-Federalist, 6 vols. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1981) 4:270, 278.
Mount, Steve. "Constitutional Topic: The Federalists and Anti-Federalists." U.S. Constitution Online. U.S. Constitution Online, 15/01/2010. Web. 18 Sep 2011. <http://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_faf.html>.
Mount, Steve. "Massachusetts's Ratification." U.S. Constitution Online. U.S. Constitution Online, 08/01/2010. Web. 18 Sep 2011. <http://www.usconstitution.net/rat_ma.html>.
"People of the Revolution." Traitors, Seamstresses, and Generals: voices of the American Revolution. Oracle ThinkQuest, n.d. Web. 18 Sept. 2011. <library.thinkquest.org/TQ0312848/mowarren.htm>.
Mercy Otis Warren
Anti-Federalist
Massachusetts Patriot:
Massachusetts was a country with many misgivings about the Constitution. Part of the New England states, with harbors along the east coast and farming land in the west, the population was very diverse. After the war had been won, war debt and taxes hit the farmers of the west hard. Tension from this created Shay's rebellion, a rebellion comprising of small farmers that lasted from 1786 -1787. The aftermath of Shay's Rebellion led to the need for a strong replacement of the Articles of Confederation. The Constitution.Writings from a Political House:
Born on September 25, 1728 in Barnstable, Massachusetts, Mercy Otis Warren was a daughter among sons. As she grew up she loved to read and learn about politics, and learned to express her thoughts and feelings through writing. Later, while at Harvard, she met, and later married James Warren. Shortly after, James Warren as well as her brother James Otis, became prominent in politics. So much so, that the Warren house became a common meeting place of revolutionaries. Mercy Otis Warren wrote her first publication in 1772. Her writing ranged from plays to histories such as her three-volume History of the Rise, Progress and Termination of the American Revolution. She was the first woman of her time to have her works published.Constitutional Convention Member?
In modern times, Mercy Otis Warren surely would have been a key player at the Constitutional Convention. However, and strongly against the beliefs of Mrs. Warren, women were not permitted to hold such an office as delegate. She therefore, was not a delegate but still played a key role in the events at the convention.Massachusetts Ratifying Convention:
Mercy Otis Warren was not a member of the state's ratifying convention, though her husband was. Despite this, her pamphlet, Observations on the new Constitution, and on the Federal and State Conventions, published under the pseudonym, "Columbian Patriot," held a vital role in the ratifying convention. Her pamphlet expressed in ornate terms, the need and reasons for need of distinctly specified states' and person's rights. Partially due to her pamphlet, Massachusetts was the first state to include changes to the Constitution to protect states and individuals along with its ratification.Arguments Against the Ratification of the Constitution:
In her pamphlet previously mentioned above, Mercy Otis Warren clearly laid out her arguments and grievances against the ratification of the Constitution. One such was the condition that there was no safeguarding of freedom of speech or press, meaning that a corrupt government once established would be free to restrict the voice of the people. Along with the problems of a possible corrupt government, no boundaries were set on the power of the Judiciary system and juries were not used in civil cases, leading to the possibility of unaccounted for public monies. In addition, the court had unwarranted power over life, liberty, and the possessions of people. Concerning the other two branches of government, the differences between the Executive and Legislative branches hardly existed. Many other parts of the government remained vague as well. Despite the need for armies in foreign affairs, Mercy believed that standing armies were a danger. Not to far out of British occupation, Mercy called them, "The nursery of vice and the bane of liberty." As bad as taxes were, Mercy also realized that in the present form of the Constitution there was no monetary method to support the running of government. And with no monetary method to support the central government, why should Congress be permitted to set their own wages which would drain heavily on the public coffers, and do so for the rest of their lives with no term limits set. She believed that the Senate terms should be shortened from six years to a smaller term so the public did not forget about them. Also, she believed that representation should be based on the population, as it did not make sense for one person to represent thirty thousand citizens. In conjunction with the Legislative branch, all government's prime objective should be the people's rights. This would mean that there were smaller governments, not just a central one, and that, to be fair, the Constitution would need to be ratified by all states, not just nine. In this way, the states would be given time to look over the Constitution thoroughly, before giving away their freedoms.References:
Sam Adams
Samuel Nasson
Amos Singletary
Friends:
Thomas Jefferson
Patrick Henry
Samuel Adams
Foes:
Alexander Hamilton
Thomas Hutchinson
John Adams
Bibliography:
"Mercy Otis Warren." Bunker hill Exhibit. The Massachusetts Historical Society, 2003. Web. 18 Sep 2011. <http://www.masshist.org/bh/mercybio.html>.
*Mercy Otis Warren, Observations on the new Constitution, and on the Federal and State Conventions 9, in Herbert J. Staring, ed., The Complete Anti-Federalist, 6 vols. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1981) 4:270, 278.
Mount, Steve. "Constitutional Topic: The Federalists and Anti-Federalists." U.S. Constitution Online. U.S. Constitution Online, 15/01/2010. Web. 18 Sep 2011. <http://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_faf.html>.
Mount, Steve. "Massachusetts's Ratification." U.S. Constitution Online. U.S. Constitution Online, 08/01/2010. Web. 18 Sep 2011. <http://www.usconstitution.net/rat_ma.html>.
"People of the Revolution." Traitors, Seamstresses, and Generals: voices of the American Revolution. Oracle ThinkQuest, n.d. Web. 18 Sept. 2011. <library.thinkquest.org/TQ0312848/mowarren.htm>.